Leather Shoes

December of 2007 I decided to become vegan . . . which means that not only do I not consume animal products . . . but I don't wear them either. Slowly over time I have weeded wool coats and leather shoes out of my closet. This year and I decided to really focus on making sure I had warm vegan coats to wear this winter (completed thanks to an awesome black coat from Mimi!) - I only survived last winter because I was pregnant and my body temperature was through the roof! Unexpectedly, I have really struggled with shoes over the past few months. I haven't had a hard time finding cute vegan shoes in the past but all of a sudden I have noticed red marks on my feet from my shoes . . . I have also really struggled because since having Petie I haven't been able to wear shoes over 2in! I wore higher heels while pregnant! So Mike, Petie, and I went to DSW (shoe heaven) today to search for more comfortable (and cute and sexy) shoes. As I walked the isles passing up leather and suede shoes I grew disapointed. I kept picking up the naturalizers saying these look so comfortable - too bad they are leather! And just as I was about to give up . . . Mike made me try on one pair of leather naturalizers before we could leave. And it was heaven. The cusion. The support. The flexability of the natural fiber. So I bought three pairs for leather shoes and with the help of Mike decided to not be defined by a word (vegan) but to define myself by how I want to live. As we drove away I felt sick to my stomach . . . not because I just bought leather shoes but thinking about all of the shoes that I have given away over the last two years. Mike told me though that my feet have probably changed since being pregnant and that I probably wouldn't be able to fit the old shoes anyways and they were all probably way too high of heels for me where anyways! Then he got me dinner and all was well. I can't wait to where my shoes!